Study this example situation:
Sarah is in her car. She is on her way to work.
She
is driving to work.
This means: she is driving now, at the time of speaking.
The action is not finished.
Am/is/are+ -ing is the present continuous:
| I | am (=I'm) | driving |
| he/she/it | is (=he's etc.) | working |
| we/you/they | are (=we're etc.) | doing etc. |
I am doing something= I'm in the middle of doing it; I've started doing it and I haven't finished:
- Please don't make so much noise. I'm trying to work. (not I try)
- 'Where's Mark?' 'He's having a shower.' (not He has a shower)
- Let's go out now. lt isn't raining any more. (not lt doesn't rain)
- (at a party) Hi, jane. Are you enjoying the party? (not Do you enjoy)
- What's all that noise? What's going on? (=What's happening?)
Sometimes the action is not happening at the time of speaking. For example:
Steve is talking to a friend on the phone.
He says:
I'm reading a really good book at the moment. it's about a man who ...
Steve is not reading the book at the t ime of speaking.
He means that he has started it, but has not finished it yet.
He is in the middle of reading it.
Some more examples:
- Kate wants to work in Italy, so she's Learning Italian. (but perhaps she isn't learning Italian at the time of speaking)
- Some friends of mine are building their own house. They hope to finish it next summer.
You can use the present continuous with today / this week / this year etc. (periods around now):
- A: You're working hard today. (not You work hard today)
B: Yes, I have a lot to do. - The company I work for isn't doing so well this year.
We use the present continuous when we talk about changes happening around now, especially with these verbs:
- get
- change
- become
- increase
- rise
- fall
- grow
- improve
- begin
- start
- Is your English getting better? (not Does your English get better)
- The population of the world is increasing very fast. (not increases)
- At first I didn't like my job, but I'm beginning to enj oy it now. (not I begin)
1.1 The sentences on the right follow those on the left. Which sentence goes with which?
- a) It's getting late.
- b) They're lying.
- c) It's starting to rain.
- d) They're trying to sell it.
- e) I'm getting hungry.
- f) I'm trying to work.
- g) I'm looking for an apartment.
- h) The company is losing money.
- Please don't make so much noise. __________
- I need to eat something soon. __________
- I don't have anywhere to live right now. __________
- We need to leave soon. __________
- They don't need their car any more. __________
- Things are not so good at work. __________
- It isn't true what they said. __________
- We're going to get wet. __________
1.2 Complete the conversations.
1
A: I saw Brian a few days ago.
B: Oh, did you? What's he doing these days? (what / he / do)
A: He's at university.
B: __________? (what / he / study)
A: Psychology.
B: __________ it? (he / enjoy)
A: Yes, he says it's a very good course.
2
A: Hi, Nicola. How __________? (your new job / go)
B: Not bad. It wasn't so good at first, but __________ better now. (it / get)
A: What about Daniel? Is he OK?
B: Yes, but __________ his work right now. (he / not / enjoy)
He's been in the same job for a long time and __________ to get bored with it. (he / begin)
1.3 Put the verb into the correct form, positive (I'm doing etc.) or negative (I'm not doing etc.).
- Please don't make so much noise. __________ (I / try) to work.
- Let's go out now. __________ (it / rain) any more.
- You can turn off the radio. __________ (I / listen) to it.
- Kate phoned me last night. She's on holiday in France. __________ (she / have) a great time and doesn't want to come back.
- I want to lose weight, so this week __________ (I / eat) lunch.
- Andrew has just started evening classes. __________ (he / learn) Japanese.
- Paul and Sally have had an argument. __________ (they / speak) to each other.
- __________ (I / get) tired. I need a rest.
- Tim __________ (work) today. He's taken the day off.
- __________ (I / look) for Sophie. Do you know where she is?
1.4 Complete the sentences using the following verbs:
- start
- get
increase- change
- rise
